Let the Eagle Soar

Somber tone sets the pace for the newest Roman saga
 by Morgan P Salvo

Well we’ve had Russell Crowe, Brad Pitt and Colin Farrell don the Ancient Roman attire as they march sandal first with sword in hand but now we add…Channing Tatum? Turns out it’s not such a bad call since there is little dialogue to screw up as he spends most of his time brooding and being really pensive. This must be survival month at the movies because beyond honor and freedom at the core of this movie is, you guessed it, survival. This is another installment of will they or won’t they?

Setting an ominous tone from the beginning we soon become aware that we are not in Hollywood mainstream gladiator territory. The Eagle, directed by Academy Award-winning Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland) re-teams with screenwriter Jeremy Brock for this historical epic set in second century Britain. In 135 A.D Roman-ruled Britain, a young Roman soldier Marcus Aquila (Channing Tatum) endeavors to honor his father's memory by finding his lost legion's golden emblem, the treasured Eagle. It’s been 15 years since the Ninth Legion went missing in the mountains of Scotland. Marcus’ father was the commander of the Ninth and by discovering what fate befell the missing 5,000 men he could restore his failing reputation. Aquila's only traveling companion is his British slave, Esca (Jamie Bell). Along the way they confront the savage tribes of the land.
Overly protective of his men (“Better angry than dead”) Marcus is careful not to make the mistakes his father made. Not knowing if Dad’s actions were of cowardice or bravery Marcus is anguished and at battle within to prove himself. There is an aura of despondency in all his actions.
Tatum wears the raging inner turmoil on his sleeve. I can’t tell if Bell looks angry to be a slave or to play one. Donald Sutherland is the kindly uncle looking like Grizzly Adams in a man-robe. Mark Strong pops up yet not as a villain. And Tahar Rahim (A Prophet) sporting a Mohawk and what looks like a muskrat skull on his head, is unrecognizable as the leader of an ashen grey covered tribe that resembles an evil Navi race. Oddly everyone speaks their own voice so we have no fake British accents flailing about.

MacDonald is not interested in gore. The brutal fight scenes are all swords swooshing, action cuts, hacking and bashing but not a trickle of blood. There’s enough sound and choreography to steer away from the missing bloodshed. The editing allows the more gruesome kills executed off camera showing the facial expressions of the killer and/or onlookers. Judging by the 15 minutes of credits it seems somebody could’ve splurged for some squibs. The stand off between the muskrat-skull wearing tribe and the Romans of the missing 5,000 (looking like a washed up rock band revival) is bittersweet in its finale… the combat scenes just seem to end with an artsy blackout and then reveal the carnage.

The realistic and somber approach to this flick makes it watchable. But the time code here is off: setting up scenes that feel unnecessary and then cutting to an end result without an explanation of how and why people got there. Shot in Hungary and Scotland with impressive scenery and really cool music I wonder why the filmmakers choose this simplistic story to bring out such impressive cinematic guns. The Eagle is an epic battle movie with a message of honor and trust too bad it ends with a highly unnecessary upbeat last scene.
I kept expecting a more Fellini or Pier Paolo Pasolini surrealistic approach to pop up yet Eagle feels more like early Werner Herzog or Terrence Malick keeping the tone gritty with a desperation and futility expressed throughout.
The Eagle
Starring Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong, Tahar Rahim
Directed By Kevin McDonald
PG-13
2 ¾ stars